Sheet-feeding mechanism for printing-presses.



H. B. GREEN. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES. APPLIOATION FILED AUGJ, 19Hv 1,108,072. Patented Aug. 18, 191;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SKEET 2.

"Win08 mokm's H. B. GREEN.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PBBSSE&

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 4, 1911.

1,103,072, Patented Aug. 13, 1914,

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

ATTO

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY B. GREEN, 0F WOODBURY, NEW JER-S-EX, ASSIGNOB. TO THE SPEED PRESS (30.,

OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. I

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 18, 1914.

Application ma August 4, 1911. Serial No. 642,343.

shown the same in conjunction with the printing roll of a printing mechanism it is apparent that. its use is not limited to any specific type of mechanism.

One of the main objects of this invention is to devise a simplified and compact construction wherein the number of parts employed has been reduced to a minimum. with a consequent reduction in the cost of production and without'in any way decreasing the cfliciency of the sheet feeding mechanism. I

A further object of my invention is to devise novel means for separating a. sheet from' a pile and guiding the same into operative position with respect to sheet clamping or ,other mechanism.

\Vith the above, and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear in the de-.

tailed description, my imicntion in it-s'broad scope consists of a novelllshect feeding and r gistering mechanism.

It further consists of atnovel construction of and a novel manner cit'mounting a suction roll. and novel meanis't'or actuating the same. 1 V l It further consists of a novel construction of a suction roll adaptedto contact with one,

of the sheets'of, a pile, novel means for reciprocating said suction roll and a novel construction of a tongue for'guiding a sheet into operative relation with respect to aj-feied roller.

It -further consistsof a povel alining mechanism and novelmeans for rendering the same inoperative;

ling the same.

found in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalit-ies of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrange ment and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

F igure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a machine showing my novel sheetfeeding and registering mechanism as employed in conjunction therewith. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the-assembled machine. Fig. '3 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 1 but showing the suction roller and its adjuncts in a different relation with respect t'o'the pile of sheets from that seen inF-ig; 2. Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation similar to Fig.

3 but showing the parts in indifferent relation to each other. Fig. 5represents a plan view of the suction roller, th tongue and its adjuncts in detached position. Fig. 6 rep resents a sectional elevation of a. portion of Fig. 1. Similar numerals 'of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of the machine in which is mounted a shaft 2, the latter being provided with a flywheel 3, and a ratchet wheel 4-.

5 designates an arm having -oneend loosely mounted on the shaft 2 and provided witha spring actuated pawl 6, which is pivoted thereto and adapted to 'coact with the .ratchet wheel 4, whereby a step by step movement of the shaft 2 is produced. The 100 farm S-has the outer'end thereof pivoted to {fan-arm 17 which is'oo'nnected with a shaft 8a'r' which latter is suitably journaled in the It further consists of novel sheet clamp-jfr ing mechanism and novelmeans fox-(controls v I Qilignfle's a sprocket wheel on the shift (is m; with which engagesa sproclrepehainej bracket 13 which letter is connected with a table or support 14 on which the sheets are mounted, it being understood that an abut ment is provided on one side of the table to prevent improper movement of the sheets in one direction while one or more standards 15 extend above the table 1.4 at the opposite edge thereof to prevent improper movement of the sheets, said standard being preferably beveled on its upper face, as indicated at 16.

-' 17 designates a pawl coacting with the ratchet wheel ,9 to prevent improper rearward movement thereof. On one side of the frame. is located a rack 18 which is secured thereto byjneansof a fastening device 19, it being noted that the teeth of the rack 18 incline upwardly, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear in the description of the operetion. The opposite side of the frame has secured thereto, in any desired manner a wedge-shaped member 20.

21 designates a suction roller which is mounted. in bars 22, a portion of said roller being adapted to roll on the wedgeshaped member 20, while the opposite side thereof is provided with a pinion 23 which engages with the teeth of the rack 18, as will be best understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The suction roller 21 is provided with a discharge port 24 preferably centrally located therein and registering with a port (38 communicating with a suction hose 25 which, as seen in Fig. 2, is connected with the discharge port of any desired type of suction creating devicc such as a pump 26 and since any desired or conventional type of suction creating mechanism may be employed, I have deemed it unnecessary, in the present instance, to illustrate and describe in detail the construction thereof.

27 designates a-piston rod which, in the present instance, for the purpose of illustratiug one manner of operating the same, is provided with a roller 28 which travels in the cam groove 29 of a cam 30 mounted on a shaft 31 suitably journaled in the frame 1.

32 designates a bell crank lever fulcrumed 33 in the frame 1 and provided with a roller 34 which is also adapted to travel in the cam groove 29, said bell crank lever 32 having pivoted thereto an arm-35, which is pivoted st 36 to one of the side bars 22, it being understood that, in the present instance, 1 preferably employ a plurality of com members 30 and. bell crank levers 32 and their adjuncts and I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to describe in detail: the construction of more than one of such members, since the same would involve needless repetition. The bars 22 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, are provided with the downward extensions 37 in which is journalcd an antitriction device consisting in the present instance of roller 38.

s9 designates arms or brackets carried by the frame and provided with the transucrsely extending bar 40 which serves a support for the burs 22 during their reciprocation and also as u stop against which the roller abuts to limit the forwardmovemeut of said burs 41 designates a wedge-shaped cross bar or tongue the front face of which is downwurdly inclined, as indicated at 42, it being noted that the front edge of the face 42 is located in proximity to the suction roller 21.

43 designates :1 guide plate which is journaled in the bars 22 and secured in its adjusted position by means of the set screws 44.

45 designates a series of pawls which are mounted on a shaft 46 journaled in the bars 22, said tongue 41 being preferably recessed in its rear face, as indicated at 47,in order to permit the pawl 45 to more closely approach said tongue.

48 designates an arm secured to the shaft 46 and against which the tension of a spring 49 is exerted to maintain the pawls 45in engagement with the rear face of the tongue 41, it being seen that the top face of the tongue 41 is provided with recesses or cutout portions 50, in order to provide for the passage of the clamping pawls 51 which are mounted on a shaft 52 and secured thereto by means of suitable fastening devices v53, said shaft 52 being carried by a cylinder roller 54, a portion of the periphery of which is cut away, as indicated at 55.

56 designates a web or flange carried by the end of the cylinder roll 54, said web or flange 56 being broken away, as indicated at 57, to form a pawl releasing device. The

shaft 52 has mounted thereon a block 58 having a slot 59 tlierethrough which is open on its outer face, whereby on the rotation of the cylinder 54, the walls of said slot will engage with the pins 60 and 61 which are provided for the proper control of the rocking awls 51, it.bei-ng understood that the num er of said pawls preferably correspond to the number of recesses or cut-away portions 50. v

62 designates a printing roll journaled in the frame 1 in any desired manner and adapted to rint on the sheet carried by the cylinder roll 54.

63 designates feeding rolls for guiding the pa or as it passes from the machine.

he cross bar or tongue 41 has its forward end rounded, as indicated by dotted lines at 64, in Fig. '5. The shaft 31 ma be operatively connected with the roller 0 the printing shaft 62 in any desired mauner and I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to show the connection and gearing since the same is well known in the art.

The operation of my novel device will now be readily apparent and as follows: 'l 'he sheets to be fed are piled' on the table or support '14. Assuming that the parts are in the iosition seen in Fig. 2 the rotation of the sha t 31 and thereby the. cam will cause the suction creating device Qt) to-be actuated and thereby create a suction one sheet. so that. the top sheet of the pile'will be raised from the'otliel' sheets. Simultaneously therewith, owing to 'th'efiprovi'sion of the elbow lever 32, the bars .29 will be moved forwardly thereby causing the inclined face 42 of the tongue 41 to pass beneath th top sheet and cause the same to be guided upwardly, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3, so that the front. edge of the sheet will engage the pawls l5 and will be slightly bent upwardly, as indicated at ('15, in Fig. 3. The clamping pawls at will now assume the position seen in Fig. 3 and on the further action of the machine the web or llan e 57 will engage the pawl 48 and move t to latter rearwardly therebv moving the registering pawls t5 rearwardlpso that the sheet of input will pass to the clamping pawls 5.1 and owin" to the curved inner face thereof will be guit cd into the )osition seen in Fig. 4, so that the paper will be clamped between the clamping pawls at and the shoulder (lb as seen in l ig. t, it being understood that the action of the suction in lifting the papers is only at the beginning of the forward movement of the tongue 41, since the pinion E33 reacting with the ratchet l8. will cause the suction roller ll, during the forward feed of the t ngue to be rotated and also gradually raisczL so that the suction roller 21 is gradually moved away from the sheet. (in the further actuation of the machine the sheet. of material which is now clalnpcd relatively to the cvliudcr ill will be rotated in unison with such evlindcr so that in the embodiment illustralct the sheet. will be brought in proper position to cooperate with the printing roll and receive any desired indicating data. .-\s soon a the cylinder roll is rotated sullicicntly for the slot .m to coact with the pin lit), the clamping or gripping pawls 51 will be moved out of cagagctnent with the shouldcr (it; so that. the. paper will e released and passed between the l'ccding rolls tii and thcn c to a desired place of utilization. It will bc sccn that alter a shcct of material has bcco fed from the pilta the connecting arms 1' and T opcrativelv connected with the shalt S on which the cylinder :34 is mounted, will causc the sprocket. chain it) to raise llic table. or support l'lso that the upper sheet of the pi e is always lnaiutaitn-d in the proper position relatively to the suction roll Ql and the tongue 4i, so that the operation will be the same irrespective of the number of shccts carried by the table or support 14. On the continued opcratitni of the machine, the

tongue 41 and its adjuncts will'be movedrearwardly into the positionseen in Fig. 2, and the slot 59 enacting with" the pinGL-will cause the clamping or gripping pawls to be brought again intothe position seenin l"igs..-;-3-and4 at th n'oper time and the e vele- "of operatioir wiili be completed. -It will be seen that as thellahge 56 moves out of engagement with the pawl48, the spring will cause the registering-or-positioning pawls 45 to return to their normal position such as-is seen in Figs. 1'and2.

Special attention ls directed-to the novel movement of the suction roll and the tongue 41, since it will be seen that instead of'reeiprocating the same in a plane parallel to the table 14 it is reciproeatcd at an angle thereto so that the tongue 4-1 will rest on the ile of sheets and irevent their improper movement during tie separating. registering and feeding operation. It will also be seen that in my present invention 1 provide a combined feeding and registering device, the wedge-shaped tongue serving to move a. sheet upwardly into proper position rela tivclyto the cylinder, and the pawls 4a serving to register and position the paper so that the same will be accurately positioned relatively to the cylinder 54 and the clamping or gripping pawls 51.

It will now be apparent that l have devised a novel and useful eoastrlmtion of a sheet feeding mechanism for printin presses which embodies the-features of ttt vantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the abovedescription, and while I have. in the present. instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereofwhich has been found-in practice. to give satisfactory amt-reliable results, it is to bo nuderstoodthat the same-is susceptiblo ofmotlilication in various particulars without departingglronl the spirit or scope of the invention m'-sacrilicing any of its advunt-a cs.

Having tlius dcscribedfiny ll\\t!llti(lll,\\'llllt I claim as new and desire to secure by Let tcrs Patent. is:

l. in a shcetfeeding mechanismadaptcd to feed sheets to a cylinder roll. a slitt support. a suction roll. devices on which said roll is mounted for feeding the sepa rated sheets. andscrving to siuiport the sheet. during substantially the entire passage lhcreol' from the sheet support to the cyliudcr roll. said devices being iuca 'iable of movement. independent of said suction roll. means for rcci nccating said devices and thereby the suction roll. nit-ans independent of the suction roll fcr maintaining the top sheet of the support at a uniform height irrespective of the number of sheets on said support, and means for rotating said suc tion roll during its reciprocating movement.

' 2. In a sheet feediln mechanism ada )tet'l' F and means for reciprocating said tongue and thereby saidu'ollm a rectilinear. plane extending at.anaagle-tomhe normal plane of the sheets and said tongue being incapable of movement .indepemlent of said suction roll.

ii. In a sheet feeding mechanism adapted to feed sheets to a cylinder roll. a sheet sup port. means for elevating the same step by step, a wedge-shaped ton ue. serving to support the sheet during su istantially the. entire passage thereof from the sheet support to the cylinder. a suction roll connected and moving in unison therewith, aml incapable of movement independent of said tongue, devices for reciprm-atiug said tongue and thereby said roll, in a rectilinear plane extending at an angle to the normal plane of the sheets, and means coacting with said roll during its recipromition to cause. rotation thereof.

l. in a sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet support, a rcciprtxrable frame, a wedge shaped tongue carried by said frame, a saction roll mounted in said frame. in proximity to said tongue, a-pinion carried by one end of said roll. a wedge-shaped support with which the other end of said roll engages. a rack having its teeth extending in a plane at an angle to the plane of the sheets and with which said pinion engages, menus for creating a auction in said roll, and devices for i-miprocating said frame tofeed the separated sheet of paper from said support.

5. in a sheet feeding mechanism. a sheet. support. a reciprocahle frame. a wedgeshaped tongue carried by said frame, a suction roll mounted in suld frame in proximity to said tongue. a pinion carried by said r ll. a rack having its teeth (Xtcnding in a plane at an angle to the plane of the sheets and with which said pinion engages. means for creating a suction in said roll. devices for rccilu'ocating Said frame to feed the separated sheet of paper from said support. and means for elevating said support to maintain the top sheet of the pile at a uniform height.

(3. In a sheet. feeding mechanism. a sheet silt) )(Hi. means for intermittently elevating sait support. a frame. a wedge-shaped tongue mounted therein. a suction roll mounted in said frame in proximity to said tongue. a guide carried by said frame. positioning pan'ls carried by said frame uml serving as a stop for the sheet being fed,

means for reciprocatingsaid frame. devices coacting with saidpawls during their reciprocation to release the latter, and means for causing therotation of the suction roll during the. reciprocation of the frame.

7. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet; support, means for elevating said support, a

.frame adapted to reciprocate at an angle to said support, a wedge-slniped tongue carried by said frame and having its forvard edge rounded, a suction roll carried by said frame, means-for reciprocating said frame. devices for-causing the rotation of sazd roll during the reciprocation of said frame, suction creating mechanism communicating with said roll. and means carried by said frame for positioning the paper when said frame reaches the limit of its forward movement.

8. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a support, means for causing a step y step elevation of said support, a frame, a wedgc= shaped tongue carried thereby. a suction rob mounted in said frame in advance of said tongue. suction creating mechanism connect- -ed with said roll, devices for rotating said roll during its reciprocation, means for rc-' ciprocatingsaid frame at an angle to the support to cause said tongue to prevent. inr proper movement of the sheets. a shaft mounted in said :frame, pan'ls carried thereby, an arm fixed on said shaft, yielding means coacting with said arm for maintaining said )an'ls in the path of a sheet, and devices for automatically releasing said paivls at predetermined times.

i). in a sheet feeding mechanism, a support, means for causing a step by step clevation of said support as a sheet. is removed therefrom. a frame supported at. an angle to said support. a \vtulge-shaped tongue carried thereby, a su tion roll mounted in advance of said tongue. devices for rotating said roll during the reciprocation of said franu-.,a-

shaft mounted in said frame. positioning pawls carried thereby. an arm mounted n said shaft, yielding means enacting \vitlr said arm to maintain said pants in the path of a sheet. a sheet receiving mechanism. devices carried thereby and eoacting with said arm to release. said pawls, means for clamping a sheet to said mechanism, and devices for reciprocating said frame and for actuating the clamping mechanism.

lit. in a sheet. feeding mechanism. a sheet support, means for causing a step by step elevation of said support upon the. removal therefrom of a sheet. a reciprmrating frame adapted to travel at. an angle to the horizontal plane of said support, a suction roll carried by said frame. means common to said roll aml said frame for causing the rotation of the latter. devices carried by said frame for uiding a separated sheet. positioning devices carried by said frame and normally in the path of a sheet, means for moving said positioning devices out of the normal path of a sheet, and devices for re ciprocatihg said frame.

11. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet support, means for Causing a step by step elevation of said support, a framemountcd in proximity thereto. and comprising side members, and an anti-friction device connecting said members, a Wedge -shapedtongue carried by said frame near one end, a suction roll. rotatably mounted in the frame in proximity to said tongue; a stop enacting" with said antifriction device to iimit the forward movement of said frame, a suction creatin r device connected with said roll, and means in reciprocating said frame in a planev at an angle to the horizontal plane of the sheet support.

12. In a sheet iccding mechanism, a sheet support, a frame, a Wedge-shaped tongue carricdby said. fraine,a suctioirroll carried by said frame, means for causing relative movement of said frame and said sheet support, devices for rotating said suction roll, suction creating mechanism communicating "with said suction roll, and positioning de vices movably situated at the upper end of said wedge-shaped tongue to serve as a temporary stop forthe separated sheet.

13. In a sheetfeeding mechanism, a sheet support. a frame, a wedgershaped tongue carried by said frame, a suction roll carried by said frame, means for causing relative movement of said frame and said sheet sup port. devices for rotating said suction roll, suction creating mechanism communicating with said suction roll, means for positioning the sheet when said frame reaches the liniit of its forward travel, and guiding mechanism carried by. said frame to direct the shoot into engagement with said positioning means.

H. In a bi "it funding mechanism, a sheet support. a frame. a wedge-shaped tongue arriod bv said framr. a suction roll carried of said member for with said suction roil, means for position-f ing the sheet when said frame reaches the limit, of its forward travel, and guiding mechanism adjustably carried by said frame and terminating in proximity to said suction roll for guiding the sheet into contact with said positioning means.

15. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet support, a frame, a wedge-shaped tongue carried by said frame, a suction roll carried by said frame, means for causing-relative movement of frame and said sheetsupport, devices for rotating said suction roll, suction creating ;m=;chanism communicating with said suction roll, means for JSi tioning the sheet when said frame reaches the limit of its forward travel, guiding mechanism ad justably carried by said frame, terminating in proximity to said suction roll for guiding the sheet into contact with said positioning means, andmeans for causing a step by step elevation of said support as the sheets are removed therefrom.

16. In asheet feeding mechanism adapted to feed sheets to a cylinder roll, a sheet support, a Wedge-shaped memberlserving to support the sheet during substantially the entire passage thereof from the sheet sup port to the cylinder roll, a suction roll connected and moving in unison with said member, and incapable of movement independentof said member, means for reciprocating said member and thereby the suction roll, and a guiding device situated at a suitabie point with respect to the wedge-shaped face properly guiding the sheet thereon.

HARE Y B. GRE

\Vitnesscs v C. D. MCVAY, F. A. Xian-TON. 

